Our first week in Rennes, we had the pleasure of being invited to dinner with a French family in their lushly green back yard. There were homemade galettes and local ciders and hours of laughter before we thanked them profusely and walked back to our wonderful little house.
In between mouthfuls of savory crepes and sips of wine, I asked our gracious hosts where to eat in Rennes. Where could we find good food? Bread? Pastries? What should we try while we were in town? I made lists of restaurants, bakeries, farmers markets, and local shops in the margins of my map.
One of those suggestions was a boulangerie in Rennes, just on the edge of old town. It was far from our house, but worth the walk or cycle ride, they told us. The place was called Boulangerie Pâtisserie Coupel.
And so off I went across town in search of the best kouign-amann and pastries in Rennes, parking my bike on the busy street I never would have thought to wander down and slipping into the yeasty, sugary-smelling bakery. My favorite pastries were the special eclairs, whose flavors changed regularly, and the light, caramel-tasting kouign-amann, famously made with the beloved Breton salted butter.
Our hosts were right: this boulangerie is worth a visit when in Rennes.
Address: 21, Rue Saint-Hélier
Phone: +33 02 99 30 70 67
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 7:30 – 19:30.
What (else) to do in Rennes
Wander through the pretty cobblestone old town. Take a cooking class with a French family. Visit the big fresh market. And don’t miss nearby Dinan, a worthy day trip destination.
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